A GORING teenager was left with a fractured skull after being beaten up in an unprovoked attack outside an Oxford bar.

A GORING teenager was left with a fractured skull after being beaten up in an unprovoked attack outside an Oxford bar.

Police believe David Whitcher was attacked by three men who punched him in the back of the head at about 1am yesterday.

It is not thought any weapons were used in the attack.

The 18-year-old from Gatehampton Road was rushed to John Radcliff Hospital with a fractured skull and brain haemorrhaging. Surgeons operated on him immediately and this morning he was in a critical but stable condition. The former pupil of Chiltern Edge School in Sonning Common was out celebrating a friend's birthday when the attack happened outside Bar Med, in St Ebbes Street.

His mother Maureen Whitcher said: "We are devastated by what's happened and we appeal to anyone with any information to come

forward as soon as possible.

"David is very kind and caring

person, friendly and outgoing.

"People always say he is very

considerate and mature for his age, but we have been told his injuries are so serious they may affect his speech and personality.

"He passed A-levels in chemistry, biology and physics, and was planning to go to university to study dentistry next year after his gap year. All that will be on hold now."

Police are still trying to piece together the details of the attack but have released the descriptions of three men they believe were involved.

The first man in white, about 5ft 5ins tall, aged in his late teens to early 20s, of medium to slim build with short blond hair.

He was wearing a white or light-coloured short-sleeved shirt with a square blue pattern on it.

The second man is also white, about 5ft 6ins tall, of slim build, aged in his early 20s. He had short brown hair and was wearing a dark T-shirt and jeans.

The third male is white, 5ft 6ins, of stocky build, aged 20 to 25 with short, black hair that was gelled up, and he had sideburns and stubble.

Officers at Oxford CAD are also keen to talk to two girls who had been talking to these three men in the bar prior to the assault, as it is believed they may be witnesses.